It’s not rocket science to sense that THE ROCKET may well be the best Australian film of the year.

Set in the rarely seen tribal mountains of Laos, THE ROCKET is a gripping yarn of a young boy triumphing over stigma. Twins are considered bad luck in the stupid superstition of Laotian culture and when one twin survives the other, the grandmother midwife is quick to remind her daughter in law that it would have been better if both had died for the kid is cursed.

First signs that her prophesy has substance is some years later when their village is to flooded by an Australian financed hydro scheme and that he will need to relocate. The trials and tribulations endured only seem to consolidate the credence of the curse as the family proceed on a calamity filled journey through a land scarred by a long ago war.

THE ROCKET stars acclaimed Thai/Lao actor Thep Po-ngarm in the role of a damaged but hilarious former CIA soldier who becomes a mentor to our young hero, played by Sitthiphon Disamoe . Bunsri Yindi as the grumpy, garrulous and goading granny is a treat and Loungnam Kaosainam a pure delight as Kia, the puppy love attractor of the young hero, Ahlo. University of Wollongong graduate, the beautiful and talented Alice Keohavong, is impressive as Ahlo’s mum and stuntie Sumrit Warin plays the stoic dad.

Written and Directed by Kim Mordaunt, THE ROCKET has its genesis in a documentary he made called Bomb Harvest about bomb disposal experts clearing ordinance leftovers from US missions that were sidebars of the Vietnam conflict. From such a lethal legacy, Mordaunt has salvaged a story of great hope and strikes a blow against savage superstition.

Exotic, exhilarating, excellent, THE ROCKET launches a potentially great feature film career for this artful, heartfelt film maker.